Building Access

Entering and Leaving Your Residence

For your safety, Stanford’s residence halls are always locked and accessible only to students with keys or access cards. Your odds of being a victim of theft or other crime drop dramatically when you keep doors closed and locked and call police - 9-911 from a campus phone or 911 from a cell phone - if you see suspicious people in or around your residence.

Card Access for Student Housing

Access Control Enterprise System (A.C.E.S.)

A.C.E.S. is a University initiative to install a new card access system throughout the University. Your Stanford ID card will give you access to the residences to which you have been assigned or which have shared spaces with your residence. Treat your SU-ID card like a key: if you lose or misplace it, report it immediately to the SU-ID card office, located in the Student Services Center, second floor, Tresidder Memorial Union.

Safety in the Residences Begins with You

Just like residences managed with keys, card access doors are locked 24/7. All exterior doors have alarms that sound when the door is not fully closed and within 20 seconds after the door is opened when exiting.

You can further ensure a safe and secure environment for yourself and your residential community by:

Ensuring that doors are not propped

Remembering that your key and card are assigned to you and should not be shared

Making sure doors always latch shut behind you when you enter and leave a building

Reporting any door/lock that is not functioning correctly to your Housing Front Desk (HFD), or by calling the 24 hour Housing Maintenance Hotline at 650-725-1602

By not allowing “tailgaters” to follow you into your residence

Locking your room door and window when you leave

Keeping screens on your windows at all times (where provided)

Having your key or card in hand when approaching your residence

Access Cards for Spouses/Partners

Non-student partners residing with students in buildings that either have card access at the building entry or utilize card access to reach common areas such as laundry rooms may apply for “spouse” ID cards at the Campus Card Services desk within the Student Services Center at Tresidder Student Union. Spouses/partners are required to show proof of relationship, such as a copy of the first page of your housing agreement (obtainable from your Housing Front desk or Housing Assignments), a marriage certificate, or a checkbook with both names on the account.

When You Have Visitors

For guests, Student Housing has installed electronic access devices at the entrances of student residences with interior hallways. Called DoorKing, these telephone-based security systems give residents control over who can and cannot enter the building. For problems relating to Doorking, their email is doorkingadmin@lists.stanford.edu.

If you visit a residence with DoorKing security:

Locate the name of the person you are visiting by scrolling through the DoorKing directory; press the A button to scroll up and the Z button to scroll down. The DoorKing directory shows the last name each resident and a three-digit directory code. It doesn’t display telephone or room numbers.

Use the telephone keypad to enter the three-digit code that appears next to the student’s name. DoorKing automatically rings the resident’s telephone.

FAQs

Use the telephone keypad to enter the three-digit code that appears next to the student’s name. DoorKing automatically rings the resident’s telephone.

Why didn’t the alarm stop when I closed the door?

The alarm will stop once it has completed the message cycle. If the alarm does not stop and continues to repeat its message, try pushing the door closed again. If it still continues, call 650-725-1602 to report a problem with the door.

Will the door alarm go off if I have the door open while standing there?

If there is continued motion in the building at the door, the alarm will not sound.

Will the door alarm sound if I prop the door open for a few minutes?

Yes, it will sound after 20 seconds.

What do I do if the door alarm goes off because a door is not closing properly?

Try closing the door again. If it is still not closing fully, report the problem by completing an on-line fixit request (fixit). Report the problem to the Front Desk.

If it is after 5pm, a weekend, or holiday, call the after-hours Housing Maintenance Hotline 650-725-1602.

What do I do if I misplaced my card, forgot it, or left it in my room and I want to get into my building?

If it is after 5pm, a weekend, or holiday and no one is home to let you in, call the after-hours Housing Maintenance Hotline 650-725-1602.

What do I do if I lost my card or it is stolen?

You must get a new SU ID card. You should go the SU Card ID Office, Monday-Friday, 9 am to 5 pm and they can issue you another card.

If it is after 5pm, a weekend, or holiday, call the after-hours Housing Maintenance Hotline 650-725-1602.

What do I do if my card does not open the exterior doors to my residences?

Go to the Front Desk for assistance.

If the Front Desk is not open, use the phone entry system to call your roommate, housemate, or RA (Resident Assistant - undergraduate housing only) to let you in. Report the door problem to the Front Desk once the office opens.

If it is after 5pm, a weekend, or holiday and no one is home to let you in, call the after-hours Housing Maintenance Hotline 650-725-1602.

How do I get a package delivered to my room when the doors to my residence are locked?

Graduate Housing:

If you know you will be home, have the delivery person use the phone entry system to call you.

If you will not be home, leave instructions for the delivery agent at the front door (e.g. to call a designee that will accept the package).

Undergraduate Housing:

Mail and packages should not be addressed to you at your residence or to your Housing Front Desk. Mail or packages sent to the residence address will be returned to sender. Packages sent via the U.S.P.S will be available at the Post Office. Packages sent via other carriers will be made available at the Roble Package Center (or Tresidder Memorial Union – FedEx Ground only) for pickup. Please include your email address and phone number on all packages so that you can be notified of their arrival. For information on the Roble Package Center, please see Mail Deliveries and Shipping.

What if I have a guest coming by?

Tell them to use the phone entry system when they arrive to call you to be “buzzed in”.

How do I get my pizza delivery?

Tell them to use the phone entry system when they arrive to call you to be “buzzed in”.

Why did my card stop working when I punched a hole in it to put on lanyard/key chain? I did not punch through the black stripe on the back.

The card access system does not utilize the mag-stripe (the black stripe) on the back of the card. There are wires imbedded around the card that the system “reads.”

We recommend using an ID card holder on your lanyard, rather than punching a hole.

Lost or damaged ID cards may be replaced (for a fee) at the Student Service Center in Tresidder Union.